Warren Gardner, Rest In Peace

Dr. Warren Gardner, longtime faculty member at the University of Texas of the Permian Basin, passed away on December 21st in Houston. Warren was one of the kindest, most delightful men I have ever known. He helped recruit me to UTPB, and as the following obituary shows, was crucial to the growth of UTPB as an important institution in West Texas. Warren had been fighting cancer since I had known him, and he endured some incredible pain and hardship with better cheer than I have ever seen or could ever imagine. I want the Rebunk readership to know a bit about this wonderful man, teacher, and visionary.

UTPB professor, administrator leaves legacy of leadership

H. Warren Gardner, Ph.D. and longtime educator at The University of Texas of the Permian Basin passed away Dec. 21 in Houston. The beloved Associate History Professor was selected by students to receive the prestigious Outstanding Educator of the Year award several times. He was also named a 2003 Higher Education Teacher of the Year by the Midland Chamber of Commerce. Gardner was well-known by members of local clubs and civic organizations for his presentations on his favorite areas of research, the Civil War and Reconstruction, radical agricultural movements in the Twentieth Century, and the diary of Rebecca Stubbs, a Kansas woman who wrote about her life at the beginning of the Twentieth Century. Gardner served many an election night as a political analyst for local television stations, and as a historian and political expert for newspapers. He also produced educational television documentaries for use both in the classroom and for general viewing.

Gardner earned his doctorate in American History from the University of Kansas. He served for more than four years as chief executive officer of a medical center in Montana, and as academic vice president and interim president of Northern Montana College before accepting the position of Vice President of Academic Affairs at UT Permian Basin in 1983. He was involved in UT Permian Basin's transition from an upper-level two-year institution to a traditional four-year university in 1991. He served as vice president for UTPB for 12 years before returning to full-time teaching and research in June of 1996. He most recently served as Interim Director of the John Ben Shepperd Public Leadership Institute from Sept.1, 2003 to August 2004.

Gardner was a longtime supporter of the UT Permian Basin. He headed up the project"Midland Vision 2000 and Beyond" to survey Midland citizens and implement projects to improve the community.

He is survived by his wife, Alicia Gardner; his son, and his daughter.